Annie slipped into the bar, still racing with a heartbeat. Warm air wrapped itself around her like a comforting blanket, while the dim light gentled the edges of reality. Eli pressed in after her, eyes darting as he took in the bustling crowd.


    They found a booth toward the back, partially obscured by a tangle of potted plants. Annie sank into the plush seat, trying to catch her breath.


    Are we safe?" Eli leaned forward with an urgent undertone.


    "For now," Annie replied, her eyes skimming the room. A small band played soft music on a stage; other patrons laughed and huddled together over drinks on tables nearby. The chaos outside became dull hum.


    Eli turned to look at the bar, where a bartender was mixing drinks with ease. "What do we do next? We can''t just sit here.


    Annie''s mind ran through possibilities. "We need information—something about that pendant and how it may help Robert."


    "Right," Eli said, furrowing his brow as he leaned back against the wall of the booth. "But how do we find that without drawing attention?"


    "Let''s start small." Annie glanced to a group that sat nearby, talking with animated detail about something she could hardly make out. "I''ll eavesdrop while you get us drinks.


    What if they recognize us?" Eli frowned but said nothing more.


    "Just act cool." Annie nodded reassuringly and scooted out of the booth, then headed toward the bar.


    As she walked past tables, shreds of conversations came her way—discussions of new tech innovations, events upcoming, all shimmering with excitement. She reached the bar, ordered two beers, and listened in on the conversation behind her.


    A woman''s voice cut through the din, low and husky with intrigue. "They say time travel''s not just a possibility—it''s actually happening right in front of our faces.


    Annie''s heart quickened as she leaned in closer, trying to catch every word.


    "I heard about a group working on it," another voice joined in—a man with messy hair and thick glasses, speaking animatedly. "They''ve made breakthroughs but are keeping it hush-hush."


    The bartender slid two frosty glasses toward Annie, who reached for them while focusing on the conversation unfolding behind her.


    "Where do they meet?" the woman asked eagerly.


    "Somewhere underground," the man said in a conspiratorial manner. "You''d need an invitation—very exclusive."


    Annie''s core was heating up as she turned to Eli with wide eyes. She slid one of the beers across to him.


    "What''d you hear?" he asked, curiosity roused, taking a sip.


    "They know something," Annie whispered urgently. "There''s some kind of underground group into time travel."


    Eli leaned forward, furrowing his brows with his thoughts. "We gotta find them."


    "Yeah," Annie nodded with utter firmness now; the spark of determination that had started once within her began burning again.


    The revelation lay hard upon her shoulder as she sank back into the sofa chair opposite him, with Eli looking distantly lost, creases in his forehead deepened by his reflections.


    "Okay," he finally said, breaking the silence. "We need to find out where this group meets."


    "Right," Annie replied, her mind racing. "But we don''t know anyone here who could help us."


    Eli frowned. "What about that woman? She seemed interested in the topic."Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    Annie considered it for a moment, then nodded. "Let''s go talk to her."


    They slid out of the booth and made their way toward the group. As they approached, Annie caught snippets of their animated conversation—a blend of excitement and skepticism that only served to feed her determination.


    "Excuse me," she inserted, projecting a confidence she was far from feeling inside. The group turned to her, eyes flickering with curiosity.


    The woman from earlier raised an eyebrow. "Can we help you?"


    Annie took a deep breath and chose her words carefully. "We overheard you talking about time travel. We''re. interested in learning more."


    The man standing beside the woman snorted. "You think you can just walk in here and ask questions? It''s not that easy."


    Eli took a step forward. His voice came out steady. "We know something about it already. We just need a lead-an invitation or something.


    She watched them for a moment before smiling. "You''ve got guts; I''ll give you that." She gestured to take a seat. "I''m Zara. What do you really know?"


    Annie looked at Eli before responding, weighing their risk versus need to know.


    We''ve been looking for a way to help someone," Annie said slowly, her words carefully placed. "He''s sick… and we believe there might be a way to save him through time travel."


    Zara leaned in closer, her interest now piqued by their sincerity.


    You''re not the first to seek help this way," she admitted quietly, looking around as though checking for eavesdroppers. "There''s a meet-up tomorrow night at an old warehouse on Sixth Street."


    "Do you think we could join?" Eli asked.


    Zara hesitated but then nodded slowly. "Just be careful who you trust.


    Annie exchanged a look with Eli, the excitement mingling with apprehension in her expression as she weighed their next move against an uncertain future, waiting just beyond the horizon of possibility.


    As they waited for the meetup at the warehouse, Annie and Eli soon fell into a rhythm of preparation. Days turned into a haze of research, furtive conversations, and whispered plans. They mapped out their route to the location Zara had mentioned, each step charged with anticipation.


    The evening of the meet-up finally arrived. Annie buttoned her jacket, her fingers trembling slightly as she double-checked her reflection in the bathroom mirror. Eli leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, studying her with a mix of admiration and concern.


    "Ready?" he asked.


    Annie nodded, but her stomach churned with uncertainty.


    "Just remember what Zara said," Eli added, the steadiness of his gaze pinning her down. "Stay sharp."


    The night air enveloped them as flickering streetlights, like beacons, cast erratic shadows across the pavement; the city hummed on, energized, heedless of their mission''s urgency. They worked their way down the narrow alleys and side streets until an old warehouse loomed in the distance.


    Graffiti splattered across its weathered walls told stories of rebellion and creativity long abandoned. Annie felt her adrenaline heighten as they neared the entrance—its rusted doors were barely ajar.


    Eli gave them a push, and the creaking reverberated into the cavernous space inside. The air hung heavy with anticipation and whispered conversations.


    Inside, flickering dim lights hung above clusters of people huddled together, their faces illuminated by handheld devices displaying maps and diagrams. A central open area, clearly left free for those who might want to share ideas or pitch plans, drew Annie''s attention.


    "Where to?" Eli whispered at her side.


    "Let''s find Zara," Annie said, looking around the room for any face she knew.


    They wove through clusters of attendees discussing theories and conspiracies until they spotted Zara near a small podium where someone animatedly gestured about time paradoxes. Annie felt a surge of hope at seeing her again; maybe she would provide further guidance.


    Zara caught sight of them and waved them over with a smile that faded into something more serious as they approached.


    "Glad you made it," she whispered as they came up alongside her. "But listen closely—it gets wild from here."


    Annie swallowed hard, nerves humming like electricity in her stomach.


    "What do we need to know?" Eli asked.


    "The group''s been experimenting with methods for years," Zara explained, glancing around before continuing. "Some had success, but others… didn''t return."


    Annie looked at Eli; unease stole into their minds, unwanted company.


    "We will be careful," Annie said with a firm setting of her jaw.


    Zara nodded gravely before turning and nodding in the general direction of a growing circle of people who stood in a circle, enclosing a towering figure standing on top of a make-do stage, one with unruly hair and glittering eyes seeming to capture everybody there just so.like moths to flame.


    "He''s going to explain tonight''s experiment," she whispered. "Listen well."


    The crowd was abuzz while the charismatic figure took center stage. Annie felt this magnetic attraction pull him immediately—her mixture of curiosity and unease made for a great whirling action in her abdomen. She nudged Eli, standing behind her arms, akimbo.


    "Welcome, time seekers!" he boomed across the room, and murmurs stopped like a knife. He had an intensity that captured an audience. "Tonight, we delve into the uncharted realms of temporal travel!"


    Annie leaned in closer to hear every word.


    "Many of you have heard whispers of our work," he continued, pacing back and forth with a flair that drew more eyes to him. "But few understand the risks involved. Time is a fragile tapestry; one thread pulled can unravel everything."


    Eli shifted beside her, a skeptical look on his face. "Sounds like a sales pitch," he muttered under his breath.